The Minnesota Vikings Trade WR Percy Harvin To The Seattle Seahawks

By Brad Berreman

Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

NFL free agency officially starts on Tuesday, but the Minnesota Vikingsmade news on Monday with the report they will trade wide receiver Percy Harvin to the Seattle Seahawks. Jay Glazer of Fox Sports has reported Minnesota will receive three draft picks in the deal, two in 2013 (first and seventh-round) and a mid-round pick in 2014. The Vikings now own four of the top 83 picks in April’s draft, including the 25th overall pick that had been Seattle’s to go with their own first-round pick (23rd overall).

The deal is contingent upon Harvin passing a physical, and further reports suggest the trade is also contingent on him agreeing to a new contract with the Seahawks. Harvin is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and there has been speculation that he expects to paid like the elite wide receivers around the league in his next contract. Those potential financial demands helped fuel the trade rumors that already existed, and Harvin’s reported desire to not play for the Vikings anymore put general manager Rick Spielman in a difficult position.

Harvin will be reunited with a couple familiar faces in Seattle, as former Vikings’ offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell occupies the same post there and wide receiver Sidney Rice was a teammate in Minnesota during the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

The trade can’t be made official until 3 p.m. Central Time on Tuesday, but barring something unforeseen the Vikings will be parting with their most talented wide receiver. Replacing Harvin’s production will not be easy, but the off-field distraction he had become and was sure to be throughout the offseason made a move necessary. The need to add talent to their receiving corp just got greater for Minnesota, but free agency and the draft will provide ample opportunity to do so. Having extra draft picks is not a bad thing, since Spielman’s first draft class as general manager last year was filled with immediate contributors.

Brad Berreman is a contributing writer at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter @bradberreman24.